SAN ANTONIO — Spurs forward Othyus Jeffers learned he would be making the second start of his NBA career just moments before tipoff Wednesday night.

“I was very, very surprised,” the 28-year-old former Development League All-Star said. “It was kind of a curveball.”

It didn't give Jeffers much time to call friends and family back home in Chicago to let them know to tune in to the television broadcast.

Since the Spurs were playing Jeffers' hometown Bulls, most of their TV sets were already flipped to ESPN.

Growing up during the height of the Michael Jordan era, Jeffers was a die-hard Bulls fan. He had Jordan posters on the wall, and sported Jordan's signature shoe.

Jordan, however, wasn't Jeffers' favorite Bull.

“I was more of a Dennis Rodman fan,” Jeffers said.

Nearing the home stretch of the 10-day contract Jeffers signed Jan. 24, the 6-foot-5 swingman knows his time with the Spurs could be coming to an end.

With the team still woefully short of healthy wings — Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili are all likely to begin next month's rodeo road trip on the injured list — Jeffers has a chance to stick for a while.

“I'm sure he'll get minutes,” coach Gregg Popovich said.

Jeffers went scoreless with two rebounds in 15 minutes of the Spurs' 96-86 loss to the Bulls, but he at least provides a defensive toughness on the wing the team would otherwise lack.

The first start of Jeffers' career — April 1, 2011, for Washington, in a game against Cleveland — remains special to him because it was the first.

His second start will remain special because of which team it came against.

“I won't say it's the same as playing the Bulls back in the day, but it was a good experience,” Jeffers said.

Passing Russell: Tim Duncan logged 17 points and 12 rebounds against the Bulls, marking the 786th double-double of his career.

That ranks first among active players and moved Duncan out of a tie with Boston great Bill Russell for sixth place all time.

Rub some dirt on it: In the past three games, point guard Tony Parker has taken a knee to the thigh, a shot to the shin and jammed a finger on his left hand.

Given the rest of the Spurs' injury report — with four players out with various maladies — don't expect Parker to be asking for time off any time soon.

“I'm banged up,” said Parker, who scored a team-high 20 points against Chicago. “But I'm not going to use that as an excuse. I can't take (any) rest. We've already got four guys out.”

Rare losing skid: The Spurs' three-game losing streak, which they will aim to stop Saturday against Sacramento, is only the 18th of at least that length during the 17 seasons of the Duncan era.